Saturday, September 9, 2017

It was always there
Though imagined places searched
Unknown waters lurched
While it waited hopefully
The answer about one’s self

Crystal Shores (tanka)

In the moonlit night
Somewhere mid life’s crystal shores
Lovers once again
Search heaven’s stars for answers
Found within each other’s heart

The Answer (tanka)

The lovers wondered
Will the season come again
Warmed by winds of youth
And as they searched tomorrows
Found the answer in their eyes

Answers are explored in these tankas. A traditional tanka is 5 lines of 31 syllables total, arranged thus: 5/7/5/7/7. The modern tanka started to appear as early as 1862 with the noted poet Ōgai Mori. Modern tankas challenge the traditional rules. One of these noted modern tanka writers was Nobuyuki Ōkuma (1893–1977). He distinguished himself as an outspoken social critic, yet he also excelled at tanka in his younger days. Here is one of his tankas:

Third-Class Car on a Night Train

crumpled handkerchief

in one hand

with no baggage

slender legs exposed

standing near the door

swaying

and sighing from time to time

Talk about "the rules". I used to work at Chevron Corporation. My job was Customer Assistant. A Chevron employee comes to me with any graphic or Art oriented job and I figure out how to get it done (and even coordinate). These could be anything from a simple copy job to the big 100 year anniversary party for the Chevron airport hangars. My talent was thinking outside the store that sells the box. My thinking was: with Chevron's money anything could be accomplished and we'll work down hill from there. I was different and my clients had to get use to (get over) it. I would wear suits or nice sports coats. But I would dye my hair. I also wore an earring. One that dangled. I was a sight to see. I was Martin. I earned the privilege to look different at Chevron's headquarters. I had coordinated the printing and distribution of Chevron's Standardized Accounting Practices. I introduced a better Refinery Training and Safety brochure. Before there were computers, there was the (information) War Room. I brought it to Chevron. These were just an inkling of the things I did to allow me to walk outside "the rules" in the corporate world. (Not only walk but see.)

We are all different (unique, individuals). Yet, in some matters we conform to a norm. Some people tend to dress similar to those they hang around with. People tend to associate with others of similar likes, beliefs and interests.People tend to speak the language {including accents and dialects) as those in their communities. To be truly different; To stand out in a crowd, may come at a cost. People may stare. People may talk. People may treat us differently. ...and there are the bullies. We may or may not get use it. We are all different. Take pride in our uniqueness. Be proud of who we are. I believe the big "rule" is: Be true to yourself. In the end, confidence will win out. Remember, we are wonderful. Being who we are give worlds to Enjoy.

Need some more inspiration: Jessie J "Who You Are"

Gun. mace or cat

According to the LA Times, there is little difference if a gun or pepper spray is used for home or personal protection. It is interesting though that more men prefer guns, while pepper spray is preferred by a majority of women.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

There’s Something In The Wind to What About "Non-Stop"

The wind whispers of a moment

Two doormen excite of a moment

There’s Something In The Wind (Italian sonnet)

There’s something in the wind which calls to me
A scent of heaven playing on my heart
A promise path mid all which life can be
And hopes and dreams are never far apart
-
There’s something in the wind which makes me stray
To realms where reason’s spring still sweetly charms
And passion is the purpose of the day
While wonder waits to thrills with outstretched arms
-
Why waste this moment searching for a clue
Or search out purposes which might explain
The times to make a memory are few
Don’t let the stain of pain spoil soft refrain
-
There’s something in the wind which warms my soul
A whisper all I know to be is right
A whispered pledge that I’ll again be whole
When wind will draw you back into my sight

Something refreshing calls to this lover in the wind of this Italian sonnet. This a standard love sonnet. The conflict stanza (the third quatrain) is slightly different .The first, second and forth stanzas are descriptive. They describe something in the wind. The third quatrain (the conflict stanza) poses a question, a challenge.

I was 20 when Arlene and I moved into our "Palace in the Sky". It was a small apartment with a large balcony on Twin Peaks. The balcony was built on the roof of a neighboring apartment. We had an unbelievable view of eastern San Francisco. Our palace was under (aligned with) one of the peaks, so when the fog rolled in, it wouldn't touch us for a while. Imagine the escapades of teenage lovers in such a paradise. This paradise came at a cost. Arlene and I were going to college. And there were the expenses. So we both had to work. School, work, cooking, cleaning and homework... Young or not, we were often tired. It was laundry day. We had just finished dinner. School and work had been unusually rough. I was doing the dishes and looking forward to relaxing with Arlene on the balcony. From out of nowhere, Arlene appears at the bedroom door. Lookin' fine as fine could be. "Let's go out", she said. She was as tired, as I was. As I changed clothes, I began to regain my energy. The Castro District was a walking maze away. There was always interesting and unusual entertainment there. As the evening dazzled on, Arlene began to look better and better. We were refreshed. I learned something valuable that evening.

Even kissing every night by the lights of a beautiful city guided by the stars can become routine. There is more than one way to get that needed "rest and refreshment". It's been another rough day. We're tired. The couch, the easy chair, the bed look so inviting. Sound familiar? Why not? We deserve it? Here and idea. Do something different. We're tired. A friend offers us a free dinner. All of the sudden we have all the energy in the world. Not only that. The next day we can hardly wait to tell our coworkers. What happened? Something special, something different can have this effect on us. A change can be just, if not more, effective as that easy chair. Those kisses...? Never have to get stale. Refresh our self. Do something different. Remember the key word: Enjoy.

Need some more inspiration: Haley Westenra "Listen to the Wind"

What's a good movie

"Non-Stop" is a 2014 mystery action thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Liam Neeson. Alcoholic and world-weary, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) lost his passion for his work long ago. Even though lives are potentially at stake during every flight, he sees the assignment as just a desk job. However, his "ordinary day at the office" becomes a high-stakes crisis during a flight to London. Marks receives a series of text messages demanding that he instruct the airline to transfer $150 million into an offshore account, or a passenger will die every 20 minutes.

Is the movie any good? Let's ask these doormen and find out. "Key & Peele - What About "Non-Stop," Though?"

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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Yesterday to I'm Batman

A lover reflecting on yesterday

The Riddler reflecting on Batmen

Yesterday (lyrical poem)

I often look into the stars
And think about just where you are
And can you see what I can see
Is there a time you think of me
-
When I’m alone I talk to you
The unsaid praises you were due
Alone I listen carefully
A word a sign you sent to me
-
But maybe it’s too far away
The things I lost to yesterday
-
The images that I hold dear
Make me believe that you are near
Again upon my knees with you
Forgive the sorrows we’ve been through
-
Or maybe it’s too far away
Those things I pay for yesterday
-
I ask you to look through my heart
The moments we shared at the start
And if you see that I’m untrue
I do not know what more to do
-
Still maybe you’re too far away
And maybe there’s no yesterday
-
But still just once in a while
There’s hope I still make you smile
Till then
And when
I’m with you again
-
Remember that was yesterday
And yesterday is far away

A person reflects on yesterday and someone in this lyrical poem. In this song stanzas with four lines are verses. Stanzas with two line are the choruses. The last verse (the stanza with five lines) is a verse and a coda. Throughout, the meter is kept tight, so that this easily fits into a song.

Arlene passed away on August 11, 2003. She lived such a grand life that for days people came to say their goodbyes. There was not even standing room at the church where her funeral service was held. People waited outside the doors.The Freemasons (a men's organisation) held a funeral reception in honor and celebration of all she had done. And me? I spend many-a time revisiting yesterday. Did it really happen? It was unbelievable. I have pictures and other visual records and memorabilia that hint something did happen. Many dreams, that we gave birth to, took on lives of their own and live through others. In the days that we were together, there were were many Martins. There was Martin the musician. Martin the photographer. ...the spiritual leader, the dancer, the outdoors-man. the parent, the coach, the leader and much more. Me. Many of them floating in yesterday. And now yesterday claims her. My partner. Arlene. I miss her a lot. Yet how can I be sad? It all was pretty fantastic. Yesterday has taken so much, but returned wonderful memories and more for myself and for others. A wonderful garden of splendors. At the end of which is a light, The warm welcome light of tomorrow.

Such is the nature. the wonder of our existence. Always living in the past and guessing at the future. We humans are incapable of living in the "now". What exists in a picture, we are incapable of doing, We need motion for everything. Even wilder, by the time we experience anything. it has already happened. Fast as it may be, it takes time for things to reach the brain and for the brain to process the information. When one considers all that transpires in any experience and how fast it all happens, it's amazing. Now throw this in. What we experience rarely represents what actually occurred. From the moment of an experience it must pass through filters to, in and from the the brain. As time is added to when an experience happened more is added to or taken away from the actual experience. So when someone (like me) says, "live in the now", we understand why this is somewhat confusing. Yet, we are still wonderful. Take in the wonder and Enjoy.

Joy may be found anywhere: Al Marconi "Black Rain"

Batman riddles the Riddler

The Riddler, or Edward Nigma, is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is an adversary of Batman. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #140 (October, 1948) and was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. The Riddler takes delight in incorporating riddles and puzzles into his plots, and leaves them as clues for the authorities and Batman to solve.

Now the gang of Studio C has Batman posing a riddle for the master of puzzles. "I'm Batman"